DBAGUIO CITY (PIA) - - “Healthy Heart, Healthy You”. With this for a theme, the Department of Health – Cordillera led other partners to promote healthy lifestyle with a Heart Month eco – walk.
Held last February 22 at the famous eco - walk and forest bathing trail inside Camp John Hay, the event was attended by over a hundred representatives from regional line agencies, city health offices from Baguio and Benguet and private sector institutions and organizations.
The early morning activity started with a short program, healthy lifestyle trivia and warm – up yoga exercises before the participants trekked the three–kilometer trail.
To make the trekking interesting, the participants were grouped in a game of finding six photographed scenery/site and take a groupie (group picture).
The eco – walk ended with a program at the famous Historical Core for the awarding of the game winners, raffles and an oath and signing of pledge of commitment to support a healthy heart and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
DOH – CAR OIC Assistant Regional Director Dr. Janice Bugtong outlined that the eco-walk activity is a promotion of healthy Heart Month and in line with the Universal Health Care program of the Health Department.
“We promote healthy lifestyle, diet, exercise, less stress, iwas – bisyo and physical, spiritual and mental health towards the attainment of Universal Health Care,” Bugtong said.
Meantime, DOH – CAR Local Health Support Services Head Dr. Shelly Aral also reminded the participants to lessen their sitting hours at work and do stretching or walking from time to time.
February is celebrated as Philippine Heart Month by virtue of Proclamation No. 1096 signed in 1973 to promote awareness of heart disease as a serious and growing health concern among Filipinos. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)
